Case Studies

Bangladesh Floods 2004 - Case Study

HUMAN-Global warming(flow of water from Himalayas depends on sea level - higher sea level = restricted flow + floods) -extraction of groundwaterfor irrigation (caused subsidence by 2.5m) reduced deposited silt, meaningland could not build up-urbanisation-population growthmeant more pressure on farmers anddeforestationto make space for farmable land - led to decreased interception and landslides (decreased slope stability) which filled the channel

PHYSICAL- most of country is flood plain/delta -70%of total area< 1m above sea level-10% is lakes/rivers-snowmeltfrom Himalayas in spring/summer - heavymonsoon rains-tropical stormsmean heavy rain leading to coastal flooding - main cause wasabove average amount of heavy rain, which lasted for avery long period-all three main rivers reached peak flow at same time

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Bangladesh Floods 2004 - Case Study

Impacts

41 out of 64 districts affected - two-thirds of country engulfed - nearly 1 in 5 were affected